Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
The Prospective Marriage visa allows an eligible applicant to travel to Australia, marry their Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen prospective spouse, and then apply for an onshore Partner visa.
Subclass 300 is temporary and requires an offshore application. The applicant must enter Australia and marry the sponsoring prospective spouse before the visa expires.
What is the Subclass 300 Visa?
Subclass 300 is intended for engaged couples who genuinely intend to marry and live together as spouses. The visa allows the applicant to live, work and study in Australia for the period stated in the grant letter.
The visa is generally granted for nine to 15 months from the grant date. After marrying, the holder should lodge the combined Partner visa Subclass 820/801 application before the Prospective Marriage visa ends.
What can you do with this visa?
Key eligibility requirements
The applicant and sponsor must generally be at least 18 years old. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and must satisfy sponsorship criteria.
The couple must have met face to face as adults since turning 18, know each other personally, genuinely intend to marry before the visa expires and genuinely intend to live together as spouses. The intended marriage must be legally valid under Australian law.
Who can sponsor the applicant?
The sponsor is the prospective spouse and must meet status, age and sponsorship requirements. Limitations can apply because of previous partner sponsorships, certain offences or other circumstances, and sponsor approval is separate from the visa decision.
How the Subclass 300 process works
Check applicant and sponsor eligibility
Review age, location, sponsor status, meeting history and sponsorship limitations.
Prepare marriage plans
Obtain credible evidence of the intended ceremony, timeframe and legal capacity to marry.
Organise relationship evidence
Document the relationship history, face-to-face meeting, commitment, communication and future plans.
Lodge visa and sponsorship
Apply through ImmiAccount from outside Australia and have the prospective spouse submit sponsorship.
Enter, marry and apply onshore
Enter by the required date, marry before visa expiry and lodge Subclass 820/801 while eligible.
Evidence of intention to marry
Applicants should provide evidence such as a letter from an authorised marriage celebrant or officiant confirming plans to marry within the required period. Supporting material can include venue enquiries, ceremony arrangements, invitations and communication about the wedding.
Plans should be genuine and realistic, but the marriage may take place in Australia or another country provided it occurs before visa expiry and is valid under Australian law.
Relationship evidence
Evidence should show how and when the couple met, how the relationship developed, when they became engaged, time spent together and apart, communication, significant events and their intention to share life as spouses.
Documents can include travel records, photographs, messages, call histories, financial support, gifts, joint plans and statements from at least two adult witnesses who know the couple and their relationship.
After the visa is granted
The holder must enter Australia before the first-entry date and marry the sponsoring prospective spouse before the Subclass 300 visa expires. The visa allows multiple travel while valid, but time outside Australia does not extend its expiry.
After marriage and before expiry, the applicant generally lodges the combined onshore Partner visa Subclass 820/801 application. A reduced Partner visa application charge may apply when lodged by an eligible Subclass 300 holder before expiry.
Important Subclass 300 Responsibilities
- Be outside Australia when lodging the visa application.
- Provide evidence of meeting face to face as adults.
- Enter Australia before the first-entry date.
- Marry the sponsoring prospective spouse before visa expiry.
- Ensure the marriage is valid under Australian law.
- Lodge the Partner visa while the Subclass 300 remains valid.
- Notify the Department about relationship or family changes.
Including family members
Eligible family members may be included at lodgement, and a dependent child can be added before the visa decision. Included family must be outside Australia when applying and meet identity, relationship, health, character and child-consent requirements.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passports, birth records, sponsor status evidence, relationship statements, face-to-face meeting evidence, intended-marriage letter, photographs, travel and communication records, witness statements, previous relationship documents, police certificates, health examinations and dependent-child records.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can assess applicant and sponsor eligibility, review meeting and marriage evidence, organise relationship documentation, prepare a personalised checklist and assist with the Subclass 300 and subsequent 820/801 pathway.